how the bauxite plays out is clear as mud to me, just trying to...

how the bauxite plays out is clear as mud to me, just trying to think of scenarios. What is clear is that if RIO puts everything in the bottom drawer, they may never benefit from it, but BHP might in a decade or so.

The smart play for BHP would be to take out UMC for the iron ore, and as an added bonus they crush their Mitchell Plateau rival in Norsk (assumes RIO takeover succeeds). If RIO takeover fails BHP may look at UMC as a way to get their foot in the door in MP and work with Norsk to develop in competition with RIO.

no one really discusses the Bauxite much because there are so many unknowns but it will be fascinating to see what actually happens especially with behemoths RIO and BHP fighting to the death.